Lafisavia

The winter celebration on Shokiyu (and the equivalent to Christmas) is known as Lafisavia (or Lavisavia in some regions), which is an elven word meaning "The night of love and light". It tends to begin on the night of the first full moon of winter (which means it falls towards the end of December in 2012), and lasts for a week. In addition to gift giving, people build snow statues of Meikon (with the best ones getting a prize), minstrels perform, and people give to those in need, among some of the festivities. A favorite tale among the people is the legend of Lafisavia--the story goes that a young elven soldier (although the character's race and profession differs in many regions) is on his way home after being victorious in battle, and gets lost in the woods. When he cried to Meikon for help, he saw that the moon was unusually bright, and was able to find his way home in the moonlight. When he finally returned, his family was so happy to see him, the town shot off fireworks to welcome him, and his family showered him with gifts--creating the first Lafisavia.